Adjustable clamp



Jan. 5 1926. 1,568,225

J. H. KORTES ADJUSTABLE CLAMP Filed August 5, 1925 Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

UNITED STATES JOHN H. KORTES, OF TELLURIDE, COLORADO.

ADJUSTABLE CLAMP.

Application filed August 3, 1925. Serial No. 47,792.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. Kon'rns, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Telluride, in the county of San Miguel and State of Qolorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Adjustable Clamp, of which the following is a s ecification.

his invention relates to improvements in package ties and is more particularly adapted to an adjustable clamp.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a clamp which may be readily and easily adjusted to acli commodate bundles or packages of various sizes so that the bundle or package will be held securely and compact, means being associated with the clamp for preventing the accidental o ening of the same and the conif sequential isruption of the package or bundle. i

A further object is to provide an adjustable clamp of the above mentioned character which includes a means for permitting the clamp to be used when a relatively small. bundle or package is to be tied together, the auxiliary clamping means being of such a nature asnot to interfere with the primary' clamping means.

A further object is toprovide an adjustable clamp of the above mentioned character which is simple in construction, inexpensive, and furthermore adapted to the purposes for which thesame is designated.

Other objects and advantages of this in vention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a side elevation of the clamp embodying my invention, the same being shown as having the auxiliary clamping means associated therewith, and a portion of the clamp being shown'in section.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of one of the channel arms, showingthe manner in which the depending arm of a complementary member is disposed within the channel arm and further illustrating the locking means for holding the members in their adjusted position. I

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of one of the depending arms of'the complementary member showing the ratchet teeth formed in one of the edges thereof, and

F 11g. 4 is an edge view of the locking In the drawing wherein for the purpose of llustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally the adjustable clamp, the same comprising the substantially U- shaped member 2 which is formed of flat spring metal. A piece of similar metal indicated at 3 is associated with each of the upstanding arms 4 of the U-shaped member 2 for the purpose of providing the vertical channels 5 as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. The purpose of these channels will be hereinafter more fullydescribed.

Cooperating with the U-shaped member is the inverted substantially U-shaped member 6, the depending parallel arms 7 thereof being adapted for slidable movement in the vertical channels 5 associated with the upstanding parallel arms of the first mentioned U-shape member 2. The complementary U-shaped member 6 is also formed of the same material as the U-shaped member 2.

Provided in one of the longitudinal edges of each of the depending arms 7 of the inverted U-shaped member 6 are the spaced ratchet teeth" 8, the same being formed by making the notches 9 in the edge of each of the depending arms of the inverted U- shaped member and bending the portions between the spaced notches so as to dispose the same at an angle with respect to the Elf) spaced notches so as to dispose the same at an angle with respect to the major portion of the arms of the U-shaped member as is more clearly illustrated in Fig. out from each of the arms 7 adjacent the free end thereof is the spring tongue, 10, the same being adapted for engagement with the inner side of the strip of metal 3 which forms the channel 5 on the upstanding parallel spaced arms of the U-shaped member 2.

For the purpose of adjustably securing the U-shaped members together around the bundle or package to be tied or clamped, there is provided in each of the channels a locking pole 11, the same being formed from a single piece of spring metal and being pivotally secured at its upper end to the inner side of the respective pieces of Struck metal 3* as at 12. The lower free end of each locking tongue is bent inwardly as illustrated at 13, the same being adapted for engagement with the ratchet "teeth 8 formed in the longitudinal edges of the depending arms 7 of the inverter U-shaped member 6 as is clearly illustrated in the drawing. 7 V

The ratchet teeth and the locking pawl are so arran ed as to permit the sliding movement or the arms 7 in the channel's in a downward direction butliinit the upward sliding movement of the arms 7 so that the complementary U-shaped members will be adjustably secured together and the same will ho'lo a package or bundle placed between the li=shaped in'euibersi For the purpose of opening or separating the parts of the clamp, there is provided on each of the locking pawls a laterally efrtenoing pin 14; the same extending through a transversely extending slot provided therefor in the outer side of the piece of metal and these laterally extending pins 14 when inoved in one direction will cause the locking pa'wls to bebrought out of engagement with the ratchet teeth of the respective arms of the inverted U- shaped member 6 and thereby permit the upward sliding movement "of the arms 7 in the channels 5 so that. the U-shaped members will be 'separated froni each other sufiiciently to perm-it the bundle or package to be reinov d from the clamp or vice versa.

The pawl and ratchet arrangement enables the clamp to be readily and easily adjusted to the size of bundle or package to be secured and when properly adjusted, the bundle will be firmly held in the clamp.

In order to permit the adjustable clamp to be used for securing a bundleor package which isiof lesser thickness than the thickness of the clamp when the complementary U-shaped members are in their closest relation, I have provided an auxiliaryclanip ing means, the same being associated with the crown portion 16 of the inverted U; shaped member 6.

The auxiliary clamping means comprises k ooperating elongated springlingers l7 and l8 respectively, the same being secured at their outer ends to the under side of the crown portion 16 of the inverted l-J-shaped member 6 adjacent the respective arms 7. These spring fingers are relatively narrow and the inner longitudinal edges'thefeol are disposed adjacent each other; The free'ends oi the spring fingers are slightly curved upwardly so that the same will not damage the package or bundle which is to be clamped. Normally these sprin fingers are disposed adjacent the bottom race of the crown portion 16 of the inverted U-sh'ap'ed member (5 and for the purpose of moving the spring lingers to an operative position into engagement witlrthetop of the package or bn-ndle, there is provid'ec a lever designated generally by the numeral 19.

The lever 19 is formed of a single elongated strand "of wire, the same being bent intermediate its ends to provide the looped portion '20 which is adapted for engagement with the spring fingers for forcingthe same downwardly and holding the same in an operative position. The freeends of the strand off wire are disposed upwardly adjacent the looped portion, and the point at which the free ends of the arms of the strand are disposed upwardly, there is a coil 21 formed and these coils are adapted to receive the free ends of the pivot pin 22, the latter extending transversely across the top of the crown portion 16 of the inverted U- shaped member 6 and supported ina suitable bracket 23. 7 1

The elongated portions 2%: of the strand. of wire provide a handle'portion t'or actuating the lever and the free endsol the strand of wire are soldered or otherwise secured together at 25.

Normally the lever 19 is disposed in the position shown in Fig. l and when in this position, the looped portion 20 is rendered inoperative and the spring fingers are also in an inoperative position. It is obvious that when the lever 19 is swung in a direction of the arrow to the position shown in the dotted linespthe spring fingers will be forced outwardly by the looped portionQO and the handle portion 24 will lie upon the upper face of the crown portion 16 of the inverted U-shap'ed member 6' so that the spring fingers will be held in their operative clamping position and thus perm-it the ad justable clamp embodying the present invention to be used in instances Where the bundle or package is not very thick.

The provision of an adjustable clamp of the character above described will obviate the necessity of having to use cord or twine for tying up a package or bundle such asis now commonly done,'and furthermore when a bundle is secured by a clamp of the character embodied in the present invention, there will be no possibility of the c'lamp becoming disengaged from the bundle. The simplicity in which my improved adjustable clamp is adjusted enables the same to be readily and easily adjusted and may furthermore be readily and easily opened;

lVhile I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement oi? parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. An adjustable clamp comprising a sub stantially U-shaped member, having vertically disposed channels associated with the parallel arms thereof, a complementary inverted U-shaped member, the parallel arms thereof being adapted for slidable movement in the respective channels, means for adjust-ably securing the U-shaped members together, said means comprising ratchet teeth provided on the depending arms of the inverted U-shaped member, and a pivoted locking pawl arranged in each of said channels for cooperation with the ratchet teeth of the respective depending arms of the inverted U-shaped member.

' 2. An adjustable clamp comprising a substantially U-shaped member, having vertically disposed channels associated with the parallel arms thereof, a complementary inverted U-shaped member, the parallel arms thereof being adapted for slidable movement in the respective channels, means for adjustably securing the U-shaped members together, said means comprising ratchet teeth provided on the depending arms of the inverted U-shaped member, a pivoted locking pawl arranged in each of said channels for cooperation With the ratchet teeth of the respective depending arms of the inverted U-shaped member, and a spring tongue struck out from each arm of the depending U-shaped member and adapted for engagement with the inner side of the respective channels.

3. An adjustable clamp comprising a substantially U-shaped member having vertically disposed channels associated with the parallel arms thereof, a complementary and inverted U-shaped member, the parallel arms thereof being adapted for slidable movement in the respective channels, means for adjustably securing the U-shaped members together comprising ratchet teeth formed 011 the depending arms of the inverted U-shaped member, pivoted locking pawls cooperating with the ratchet teeth, said pawls being arranged in the respective channels, the outer sides of said channels having slots formed therein, and a pin car ried by each of the locking pawls and extending laterally through the respective slots to permit the disengagement of the locking pawls from the respective ratchet teeth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN H. KORTES. 

